Could you pass the pasta…salad?

Everyone automatically assumes we mean the pasta salad with the italian dressing and the peppers and the artichokes.

Well, that is what I always assume. And we all know what ASSume means?

Tonight, my dear readers, we are going to indulge in a different sort of pasta salad. One that will tantalize your taste-buds, and send you on a sort of heel kicking, chow round-up sort of journey.

This recipe has a few little ingredients that I bet you never would have imagined being put together. Think of it as that first awkward school dance. You know, the one where all the girls, all dressed up in their nice new dresses stood around along the wall of the gym, while the boys, in their best (which means not so dirty or torn or ripped up) jeans stood along the opposite wall. Then Mr. Mean-to-tight-gym shorts-coach comes along and tells everyone that they are going to have a good time if it’s the last thing they will do on God’s green earth, and forces you to line up facing the walls, then to take 3 GIANT steps backwards, turn around, face your victim I mean, partner for the night, and then dance, dammit.

Um, I think I just rattled off the scariest moment in my young 10 yr old life. Feel free to ignore that last diatribe.

But, you get my drift. Sometimes awkward stuff, surprisingly works together to create magic.

Just like Jeff…something or other and I did back in 6th grade. Oh, that first kiss…

Oops, again I am sorry.

BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad

1 lb cooked penne or rigatoni pasta, cooled and drained.

1/2 – 1 cup ranch dressing

1/2 – 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce

1 – 2 tbsp Dijon mustard

2 tsp lime juice

2 – 3 tsp garlic powder

2 – 3 tsp onion powder

2 – 3 tsp Dill weed, dried

2 – 3 tsp dried parsley flakes

Cook pasta according to box or bag directions. Drain and cool with water. Meanwhile, mix all other ingredients together in bowl. Pour over cooled and dry pasta. Stir to incorporate. Chill in fridge 1 hr before serving.